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I need to remember that not everyone grew up with a runway model mom and a dad who is a professional photographer. Their careers took us all over the world. I’d been to nine different countries before I was nine years old.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean...” Instinctively my hand reaches for Griffin’s arm in a comforting gesture. It’s meant to be a reassuring gesture, but when my fingers meet his warm skin, feel the firm cords of muscle flex beneath them, my entire body starts to tingle.
I’m a nurturer by nature. That’s probably why Alec stayed even when he realized we weren’t right for each other. He liked being taken care of, his needs met and put first. He liked to brag to his friends that I was a chill, low-maintenance girlfriend. That it didn’t take much to make me happy. I was always proud that I wasn’t the needy girlfriend that he said his dating friends complained about, but that badge of honor made it hard for me to tell Alec what I needed from him. And when low maintenance turned into no maintenance, I felt like I was painted into a corner. After giving and giving, Alec had been shocked by my ‘sudden’ demand for more attention and care in our relationship.
I’d simply ask for Alec to show more affection when we were out to dinner or at an event. He’d say he wasn’t into PDA. I’d argue that PDA and sweet gestures that acknowledge my presence are two different things. It’s clear now, from his ability to move on so quickly, that he wasn’t intome.
When Griffin’s eyes lift from my hand to my face, I immediately pull my hand away.
“Sorry. I’m a handsy person.” I realize how weird that sounds. “I gesture with my hands and touch people a lot.” Not much better of an explanation. Griffin’s eyebrows shoot up, but the rest of his face is unreadable. If his skin is tingling from our interaction, he’s much better at hiding it than I am.
“It’s fine.” He turns his gaze back out to the city. “Everything that matters to me has always been right here.”
He says it so reverently, I have to wonder if he’s talking about a woman, someone he cares deeply for. The loving look on his face has my ribs tightening with jealousy, which is absurd because I just met this man and have absolutely no claim to him.
That pang of loneliness is back. It’s a feeling I’ve had even before Alec and I broke up. There’s nothing worse than being in a relationship, yet feeling completely alone.
Champagne and curiosity get the better of me. “A woman?”
Griffin smiles but shakes his head. “Well, I guess she is a woman. My sister, Sophie. We’ve been on our own since my mom died twelve years ago. She’s in college at UNLV. She’ll graduate in a few weeks.” He runs a hand through his hair.
My eyes zero in on his empty ring finger. That doesn’t mean he’s not taken. But surely, he would have mentioned a girlfriend or fiancée when I asked.
I follow his gaze out to the lights below. The Bellagio fountains are going off in the distance. I take in another deep breath, enjoying the view and the quiet presence of Griffin beside me.
This view is captivating. It reminds me of why people come to Vegas. Other than gambling and its shows, Vegas is a symbol of letting loose, enjoying the moment and not worrying about tomorrow. I want that. I want to forget about Alec. Not worry about anything but tonight and the moment I’m in.
Griffin cuts through our comfortable silence. “I’m sorry you’re having a rough night.”
It’s not a casual ‘sorry’ that someone would convey to a stranger. The way he’s intently looking at me makes me feel like he truly cares. Like he would do everything in his power to fix it if he could. The warmth behind his green eyes—yes, they’re green, like olives in a dirty martini—is overwhelming.
I shrug, not wanting his words to penetrate the champagne fog I’ve been operating under for the past few hours. “It’s okay. I’m determined to have fun tonight.”
My phone rings. It’s Jess. Griffin pulls his gaze away, giving me privacy to answer.
“Where are you? The show is going to start in a few minutes.”
“Oh, right. Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.” I drop my phone back in my clutch.
Griffin glances at his watch.
“I’ve got to go,” he says.
“Me, too.”
We make our way over to the door and I wait while Griffin unlocks it.
I hesitate. Would asking what he’s doing later be too forward? It is my night. I should be celebrating the success of my new line’s launch. And then there’s the fact that it’s my birthday and I want to push Alec’s engagement news as far away as possible. Griffin seems like a nice guy. The kind of guy I could have a little fun with. Before I can get the words out, he turns to say goodbye.
“Have a good night, Emma,” his deep voice is smooth, like a caress. Then, he’s moving quickly down the stairs.
“You, too,” I finally call out when he’s at the bottom, but he doesn’t look back.
On my way back into the theater, I try to muster up the enthusiasm I previously had for the show. No matter how hard I try, as I walk through the lobby, my head is on a swivel looking for Griffin. Maybe he’s one of the doormen and was taking a break on the roof? Maybe he’s into half-naked men and he’s here to watch the show? Could he be gay? Oh, no. Maybe I’ve been out of the dating scene for so long my ability to tell a straight man from a gay man is not intact.
After weaving through the crowd, I make it back to our table where Jess is waiting with our drinks.
“Geez, I thought you’d ditched me.” She hands me a bottle of water, but I reach for her flute of champagne. I’m still buzzing from my interaction with Griffin.
